Laundry washing process



Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED:- STATES PA OFFICE.

No Drawing. Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,711

1 Claim.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved method of laundering certain articles, such as towels, coats, uniforms, and the like, which are soiled with lipstick, nail polish, iodine,

5 and other products, that are relatively difficult to remove, in which these products or stains, and the like, are removed without injury to the texture of the article.

. The. invention is a process of laundering, in

which. the stains and the like are dissolved or disintegrated, then washed from the fabric, and then the article is entirely rinsed.

Many attempts have been made to remove lipstick, nail polish, iodine, and other products,

,from towels, linens, and the like, however, it has been found substantially impossible to remove these substances completely without injury to the material, and, therefore, it has been found desirable to provide a process that absolutely removes these substances without damaging the material. I

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an improved process of laundering whereby these substances may be removed without injury to the material.

Another object is to provide an improved process of laundering for removing diificult stains and the like, in which these substances may be removed with substantially the same machinery and materials now employed in laundering. 7

Another object is to provide an improved process of laundering, wherein diflicult stains may be removed, which makes it possible to remove these stains in a relatively short period of time.

Another object is to provide a process for removing difiicult stains, in which the first wash or break, which is ordinarily in cold water, is eliminated. Another object is to provide a method or proc- 40 ess of removing difiicult stains, in which the use of any bleaching substance is eliminated.

Another object is to provide an improved process for washing materials, in which bluing is eliminated.

Another object is to provide an improved process for washing difficult stains, which may also be used for washing ordinary materials.

A further object is to provide an improved proved process of laundering, in which objectionable stains may be readily removed, which is relatively simple and inexpensive.v

With these ends in view the invention embodies an improved process of laundering, which consists of first washing articles in water containing 5 a relatively high percentage of a break powder, at a temperature of slightly less than that of boiling water, for fifteen" minutes, repeating the above substantially five additional times, then rinsing the articles seven times, gradually reducing the temperature of the Water witheach rinse.

This process is adapted to remove the most difficult stains caused by lipstick, nail polish, iodine, 1ic'orice,oils and greases, paint, and other products, and in use it is preferred to use a washer of about 42 X 84 or 42 x 96 inches of either wood or metal cylinders, and when cleaning about 2,000 towels, of the type used for barber or beauty parlors, it is preferred to use four inches of water in the cylinder, with five pounds of a substance commonly known as a break powder, which consists of laundry soap, soda, and a phosphate, and this is entirely dissolved in the water. The temperature of the water should be between 190-200 Fahrenheit. The washer is run for fifteen minutes, after which the water is drawn off, and another wash solution, consisting of the same amount of water and powder, is placed in the machine. This is repeated until the articles have been washed six times at substantially the same temperature, and for fifteen minutes each time. A

The first four washes cause the stains to dissolve or disintegrate, the fifth wash removes all remaining particles from the material, and the sixth wash whitens the article.

After the articles have been washed, as hereinbefore described, about sixteen inches of water are placed in the cylinder, and the articles are rinsed seven times, allowing about two minutes for each rinse, the water being drawn off after each rinse, and the temperatures of the first and second rinses being from 1601'70 Fahrenheit, the third rinse being from 150160 F., the fourth rinse being from l40-150, the fifth rinse being from l30-140, the sixth rinse 110, and the seventh rinse with water at atmospheric temperature which is substantially to T The complete time for washing and rinsing is about one hour and forty-five minutes.

It will be understood that the exact length of the periods of time may be increased or decreased for different products, also that different numbers of Washes and rinses may be used, and, in severe cases, articles may be placed through the 55 process twice, or as many times as may be desired.

It will also be understood that although the product employed has been described as a break powder, consisting of laundry soap, soda, and a phosphate, any other suitable ingredients may be added, or any other combination of products may be used to accomplish the same result.

It is also understood that although this process has been described as particularly adapted for removing difficult stains caused by nail polish, lipstick, and the like, it may also be used for washing ordinary clothes, and the like, and for ordinary use it is only necessary to use about three applications of the washing substance, whereas ordinarily the same amount of wash requires about six applications; and the three applications require about forty-five minutes, whereas the six applications, ordinarily used, require about one hour and thirty minutes. The element of time, therefore, which is very essential in large establishments, makes it possible to materially reduce the expense of washing ordinary clothes, and also articles having stains or marks that are clifiicult to remove. In washing with this process, the first break or Wash, in which cold water is ordinarily used, is eliminated, and any bleaching substance, such as caustic soda and gasolene, chlorine or lime mixed with soda, is not required, and the use of bluing is also eliminated. Rinsing the clothes in the different rinses with gradually reducing temperatures whitens the material, sets and brings up the color better than any bluing or bleaching compound.

The product referred to as a break powder, and which has as its principal constituents, soap, soda and a phosphate, is used to break dirt, grease, and the like, or start its removal from the goods, such as the dirt around a collar, cufi, or the like, in extreme cases. Any similar substance having these characteristics may, however, be used.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The herein described process of washing fabrics and particularly White cloth, which consists in breaking or removing stains, consisting of coloring matter, such as lipstick, and the like, by dissolving the materials of which the coloring matter is composed in a series of relatively concentrated solutions of a break powder comprising soap, soda and a phosphate, at a temperature of approximately 190 to 200 F., said material being subjected to the said solutions approximately six times during periods of approximately fifteen minutes each; and then rinsing the material approximately seven times for periods of about two minutes each, the water being drawn off after each rinse, and the temperatures of the first and second rinses being from 160 to 170 F., the third rinse being from 150 to 160 F., the fourth rinse being from 140. to 150, the fifth rinse being from 130 to 140, the sixth rinse 110, andthe seventh rinse with water at atmospheric temperature which is substantially to MAX HUSI-HNSKY. 

